Lions Super Series Review:
An inaugural campaign on the UK’s Elite Sevens circuit, coupled with the influx of a number of national teams into the framework provided the Lions with the tough test they were seeking as they debuted into the world of elite rugby 7s. It feels so long long ago that we begun the campaign at Newbury RFC for Leg 1. An early win vs Stunts saw us kick off our campaign on a winning streak which unfortunately ended with a loss to Scimitar Storm 24-17 in the plate semi-final. London Irish, carrying some injuries, saw the squad battle back to defeat Stunts again and Karuta to lift the Bowl. Stafford proved to be the Leg that defines some of our true Lions values – the underdog. Without a designated 9 or 10 and just 1 player over the age of 21 years old, the young squad were able to beat both China & Nigeria in the groups to qualify for the Cup for the first time ever but eventually losing to Spain. Aldershot, which was probably our strongest side of the series, the squad battled and did it again. Defeating Samurai Barracudas, Nigeria and coming within one score of the British Army, we ultimately were knocked out by China. The series saw us becoming not only the youngest ever side to qualify for the cup but the first side to go back to back in the cup in their first season.
Bring on 2023!
NEWBURY: Plate Semi-Finalists
LONDON IRISH: Bowl Winners
STAFFORD: Cup Quarter-Finalists
ALDERSHOT: Cup Quarter-Finalists
Players who featured:
1. ARUN WATKINS (CAPTAIN) - sponsored by Ready4Rugby
2. TOM DERRICK
3. AUSTIN BECKETT
4. OSCAR WAITE
5. JAMES DYSON
6. JACK SMITH
7. FINN MATTHEWS
8. GEORGE NUGENT
9. BENJAMIN MURPHY
10. JAKE ATWELL
11. TOM FFITCH
12. EOIN O’DONOGHUE
13. ALBIEE TAYEDZERWA
14. ETHAN HARBINSON
15. TIERNAN WHITE
16. LUKE BUDD
17. MAX MCCARTHY
18. PELO KGATLHANYE
19. LUKE POLLOCK
20. BEN ROBBINS
21. AVERY SMILES-TYSON
22. JACK BLACKMORE
23. JAGO FORD
24. HENRY GIBBINS
25. MILES WAKELING
26. BRENDAN CLARKE
27. WILL AYLEN
28. PETE ASHCROFT
Top Scorers:
- Arun Watkins (8)
- Jack Smith (5)
- Pelo Kgatlhanye (5)
- Finn Matthews (5)